Mercedes-AMG Plans All-Electric High-Performance Cars
Giancarlo Perlas January 22, 2018
The Mercedes-AMG brand is more popular with its longtime use of powerful petrol engines. However, does it have plans for all-electric performance cars?
According to Autocar‘s interview with Ola Kallenius, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG Group Research & Mercedes-Benz Cars Development, there is a possibility for AMG to offer such cars in the future. He cleared out though that their focus right now lies in the “power-hybrids” of AMG. He described these as units that use battery power to boost their performance rather than increase their electric range.
Kallenius reminded everyone that an all-electric car for AMG is no longer new. He said that they have been there before. His statement was clearly a reference to the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Electric Drive.
As a recap, the SLS AMG Electric Drive came out in the market in 2013. The car is propelled by four synchronous electric motors that are powered by a 60 kWh lithium ion battery pack. The setup gives the auto a maximum output of 751 hp and 1,000 Nm of torque. The electric range of the vehicle is at 250 km. It can accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in just 3.9 seconds.
When asked about how customers will react to the lack of V8 sound in AMG EV’s, the Mercedes official responded, “When we went to turbocharged engines everyone thought that would be the end of the AMG character, but we don’t exactly get many complaints about that any more. We all love the sound of the V8 and an electric car can still be thrilling, so we are going to have to develop a second love for that.”
